The Costs of Pet Ownership - Part I

Before you consider adopting a pet, please review your economic situation. That statement may sound cold. It is not meant that way. Pets can be expensive. It would be irresponsible of me to not start the conversation this way. Let’s review some of the costs:

The Initial Purchase

Purchasing a purebred dog or cat from a responsible breeder is expensive. You could easily spend between $500 to $1,000 and more on the pet. If you go this route, I urge you to do the research and adopt from a responsible breeder. Puppy mills are despicable enterprises. Do not support them!

Please consider adopting a rescued pet. Believe it or not, shelters sometimes have purebred pets surrendered to them. Also, many breeds have rescue groups. If your heart is set on a particular breed, check the Internet for a rescue group.

A rescued pet is actually a bargain. At minimum, they have had their first set of shots. They have been spayed or neutered. Some rescue groups even negotiate with local vets to provide one free vet exam.

For example, when I adopted Gracie, she was up to date on all of her shots. She had been dewormed. She was spayed. The shelter implanted a microchip prior to her leaving. Her “welcome” packet included a coupon for a free grooming visit, a DVD on pet training, and coupons for food. They gave me a week’s supply of her current food, so I could transition her to a new food without tummy troubles.

If I had taken her to my vet for the shots, I estimate the cost at around $120. Having her spayed would have been another $300 to $400. Her adoption fee was $85. Let me repeat that - $85.

The Vet Visits

If you adopt a puppy or kitten, the first year is expensive. Both animals usually require at least two visits to the vet. Depending upon rates in your area, that can cost anywhere from $60 to $100 per visit.

Even if you adopt a puppy or kitten from a shelter, you still may need one visit to the vet for a set of booster shots. Also, please spay/neuter your pet, if it was not already altered before you got it.

If you adopt a pet who is more than one year old, he or she may have all of the required shots. A visit to the vet would still be a good idea so that you can double check for any problems.

The Gear

Here is a list of the basic essentials you will need:

Cats:

• Litter box, litter scoop, and kitty litter.
• Collar and tag.
• Two bowls – one for water, one for food
• Food
• Toys (lest your furniture be the toy)

Dogs:

• Collar and leash. Harness would be nice but not totally essential.
• Portable crate and bed
• Two bowls – one for water, one for food
• Toys (lest your shoes, furniture, carpet, et cetera, be the toy)
• Piddle Pads (every pet will have an accident; these work better than newspaper)
• Food

Again, this list only shows the bare necessities. You can easily spend a fortune on your pet.

In the next posting, I will discuss ways to save on all of the above.

Rescue Mommy